Trump Declares Major Disaster in Kerr County After Floods Kill 59

President Donald Trump on Sunday declared a major disaster in Kerr County, Texas, following catastrophic floods that have left at least 59 people dead and dozens more missing, including children from a summer camp.

I just signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need. These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing.

Trump made the announcement via Truth Social, emphasizing ongoing coordination with state and local authorities. He noted that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem had visited the region alongside Governor Greg Abbott.

Federal Support and FEMA Activation

In an official letter to Governor Abbott, Trump confirmed that assistance will be provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, with Individual and Public Assistance covering 75% of eligible costs. FEMA will coordinate the aid under Federal Coordinating Officer Benjamin Abbott.

Official letter from President Donald J. Trump to Texas Governor Greg Abbott declaring a federal disaster in Kerr County.

Summer Camp Tragedy: Children Among the Victims

Most fatalities occurred in Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes after 1.8 trillion gallons of rain fell. Among the 59 dead are at least 15 children, and 27 girls remain missing from a riverside summer camp swept away during the flood.

Criticism Mounts Over Weather Forecasting Cuts

Scrutiny is now turning to the Trump administration’s budget cuts to the National Weather Service and NOAA. Under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), over 600 weather service jobs were eliminated and a hiring freeze left critical vacancies.

I am telling you, the American people are going to suffer from all this. Lives are being put in danger.

— John Toohey-Morales, former NWS forecaster (via The Independent)

As noted by KPRC Houston, staff reductions caused burnout and reduced emergency alert coordination. In Houston, only 10 meteorologists remain, down from 16. San Angelo lacks a senior hydrologist and forecaster. San Antonio is operating without key emergency coordination personnel.

Delayed Warnings Under Fire

Early alerts from the NWS were deemed insufficient. A basic “flood watch” was issued Thursday afternoon, but the first strong warning wasn’t released until after midnight. A full “flash flood emergency” wasn’t issued until 5:23 a.m., well after lives were already at risk.

In a statement to the New York Times, Texas Emergency Management Chief W Nim Kidd blamed inaccurate forecasts for the lack of timely action.

Everybody got the forecast from the National Weather Service, right? It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw.

Federal Response Defended by Officials

Defending the federal government’s actions, Kristi Noem acknowledged flaws while pledging reform. She claimed the National Weather Service’s tools were outdated and being modernized as part of President Trump’s plan.

The system has been neglected for many years. The President is working on renewing the entire structure to improve accuracy and warnings.

AccuWeather Blames Local Authorities

Privately-owned AccuWeather claimed it issued flood warnings 30 minutes before the NWS and accused local camp organizers of ignoring the alerts.

Evacuations… could have been undertaken to reduce the risk of fatalities, had the organisers of impacted camps and local officials heeded the warnings.

— Jonathan Porter, Chief Meteorologist, AccuWeather

NWS Responds to Allegations

The National Weather Service issued a formal response, saying:

We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of life and remain committed to our mission to serve the American public through our forecasts and decision support services.